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Quarantine hotel program inquiry to begin soon
A date has been set to hear the inquiry into the Victorian COVID-19 hotel program that will examine the decisions and actions which led to the current outbreaks.
Naomi Neilson
As the rest of the country moves on, Victoria has further restricted movement following a major upswing of COVID-19 cases in central Melbourne. Most of the outbreaks have been linked back to its hotel program, which up until recently was welcoming back the international travellers and providing a managed location for quarantine.
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To determine which decisions led to the outbreaks – and the subsequent criticisms on how the cases spread so quickly – Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled the plan for an inquiry. It will begin on 20 July to examine the communications between operators, government agencies and private contractors on policies, protocols and procedures.
“It is abundantly clear that what has gone on here is completely unacceptable and we need to know exactly what has happened,” Mr Andrews said in a statement.
Mr Andrews announced that the Honourable Jennifer Coate AM will be heading up the review. Ms Coates was one of the six commissioners appointed to lead the inquiry into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. She has also served in the Magistrates Court, the Coroners Court, the Federal Court and as president of the Children’s Court.
“Justice Coates is one of Australia’s most experienced jurists – every Victorian can be confident that she will oversee a thorough and independent inquiry to deliver answers that Victorians deserve,” Mr Andrews said.
No international returned travellers will be arriving in Melbourne for two weeks as the program is reset under the supervision of Corrections Victoria. Travellers will instead by directed through Sydney.
The inquiry is tasked with delivering its findings to the governor by 25 September.
Voting is now open for The Lawyers Weekly Award, to be presented to one individual for making substantial, consequential achievements in advancing the Australian legal profession since 2000.
Finalists for this prestigious award have been confirmed as those listed below. To vote for your preferred winner, click here. https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/28834-vote-now-for-the-foremost-lawyer-of-the-21st-century
Julian Burnside AO QC (barrister)
Bernard Collaery (barrister, former Attorney-General of the ACT)
Kate Eastman SC (barrister and co-founder, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights)
The Honourable Robert French AC (former chief justice, High Court of Australia)
Sue Kench (global chief executive, King & Wood Mallesons)
The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC (chief justice, High Court of Australia)
The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG (former justice, High Court of Australia)
Jane Needham SC (barrister and former president, NSW Bar Association)
Geoffrey Robertson AO QC (barrister)
Professor Gillian Triggs (assistant secretary-general, United Nations and former president, Australian Human Rights Commission)
